Syracuse shocked No. 2 Clemson 27-24 on Friday night in an upset that gives the defending national champion its first loss of the 2017 season.
The upset shakes up the ACC race, not to mention the College Football Playoff picture. Clemson suffered a blow when quarterback Kelly Bryant left in the second quarter with a concussion, and the Tigers committed too many mistakes in the second half.
MORE: Three takeaways from Syracuse's win over Clemson
Here are five ways this will impact that College Football Playoff race.
Clemson used its mulligan
The Tigers shouldn't be in full-fledged panic. After all, Clemson lost to Pitt 43-42 last season after a 9-0 start and still bounced back to reach the College Football Playoff. A one-loss ACC champion would be in decent shape, and the Tigers have built a reputation, given they've won the last two. They have no margin for error coming out of the bye week against Georgia Tech, N.C. State and Florida State.
It's a bad loss
Clemson may have just one loss, but it's a bad one. Sure, it's on the road and Bryant's injury is a factor, but this was a self-destruction on many levels. Personal fouls, a botched fake punt and a missed field goal all played a role in not catching the Orange. Clemson never led in a game. Where does this loss stand compared to Oklahoma's loss to Iowa State, or Michigan's loss to Michigan State? Who knows? That's why Clemson can't afford to lose a second game.
Wolfpack in business...
N.C. State have beaten Florida State and Louisville — and Syracuse — and have a legit chance to threaten the Tigers in the ACC Atlantic. The Wolfpack used their mulligan in the season opener against South Carolina, but they have a chance to really make an impression starting tomorrow against Pitt. After a bye week, N.C. State then faces Notre Dame and Clemson.
MORE: Clemson-Syracuse Score Center
...And so is Miami
The Hurricanes are the last unbeaten team in the ACC, and they were the team that was supposed to be on upset alert heading into Saturday's game against Georgia Tech. This is a chance to keep building on that momentum after beating Florida State last week — and this Syracuse upset might work in Mark Richt's favor. Miami should be motivated, that's for sure.
Who's going unbeaten?
We're now down to seven unbeaten teams in the Power 5, and none of those conferences has more than two. Georgia and Alabama seem on a collision course in the SEC. Wisconsin and Penn State could be headed for a Big Ten championship rematch. Washington is the lone unbeaten in the Pac-12 after Washington State lost 37-3 to Cal in the late-night game Friday. That leaves TCU and Miami in the Big 12 and ACC, respectively. Remember, the College Football Playoff has featured one unbeaten team per season. Clemson's loss shows there's a long way to go — and more chaos to come.
We might even get some more this weekend.
